Govt won’t seek SC’s nod to PCO
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum said that the Suprmem Court endorsement to the new PCO was not needed. He stated this while taking to Geo News after declaration of emergency in the country by the president General Pervez Musharraf, who is also the Chief of Army Staff.
However, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, the Supreme Court may give any decision about the emergency if the move is challenged in the court. All the institutions including assemblies are in place and only the fundamental rights have been suspended, he said.
The Supreme Court has clarified that it has not passed any order against the PCO. According to a press release issued by the acting registrar of the apex Court,” the rumour is being spread that Supreme Court has passed an order against the PCO, which is incorrect.”
“It is further clarified that those Judges of the Supreme Court who are not invited to take the Oath would cease to hold the office and cannot exercise any judicial or administrative power,” the press release added. Meanwhile, the Roster of cases issued by the former Chief Justice of Supreme Court stands cancelled. Revised Roster shall be issued by the order of Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The Supreme Court on Sunday notified to cancel all the hearings of the cases pending before the court for the next week, commencing from Monday. “It is notified for the information of all concerned Advocates/Advocates-on-Record/litigant public that all the cases in which the court has given a date of hearing during week commencing 5th to 8th November, 2007 stand canceled due to changed circumstances,” said a Notice issued by the Supreme Court. “The next date of hearing of the cases will be communicated later on in due course,” it added.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Abdul Hameed Dogar has constituted a four-member bench of the Supreme Court to hear cases from Monday according to a fresh Cause list issued by the fixture branch. Earlier, the Supreme Court had notified to cancel all the hearings of the cases pending before the court for the next week, commencing from Monday (from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8).
“It is notified for the information of all concerned Advocates/Advocates-on-Record/litigant public that all the cases in which the court has given a date of hearing during the week commencing 5th to 8th November, 2007 stand canceled due to changed circumstances,” said a Notice issued earlier by the Supreme Court. The newly constituted bench of the apex court comprises Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbassi, Justice Faqeer Muhammad Khokhar and Justice M. Javed Buttar. The bench will start hearing of the pending cases from Monday according to the fresh cause list.
Ms. Sara Saeed on Sunday formally took over the charge as acting Registrar of the Supreme Court. According to an official notification Ms. Sara will hold the charge of the office till further orders, while Dr. Faqir Hussain who was holding additional charge as acting registrar has been sent to the Law and Justice Comission.